REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 61 , 
according to market conditions. The Cape Shore fleet numbered 
38 sail of vessels, being a little larger than the previous year. No 
vessel made more than one trip. A large body of fish was reported 
and all the vessels returned with good catches. The catch taken on 
the Cape Shore amounted to 1,689,000 pounds of fresh mackerel, 
and 7,558 barrels salted, compared with 2,229,900 pounds of fresh 
and 7,131 barrels salted the previous year. The first arrival from 
the Cape Shore was on June 8, and consisted of 50,000 large and 
medium fresh mackerel, which sold at 104 cents per pound. One 
schooner, on her Cape Shore mackerel trip, obtained 95,000 pounds 
fresh and 375 barrels of salted mackerel, and stocked $15,665, the 
crew sharing $343 each. This is said to be the largest stock ever 
made on a single mackerel trip. 
Swordfish—The catch of swordfish landed at Boston, Gloucester, 
and Portland during the year amounted to 1,973,518 pounds, valued 
at $292,169. The number of vessels engaged in this fishery was 42, or 
9 more than in the previous year. 
Flounders.—The catch of flounders in the vessel fisheries amounted 
to 1,279,721 pounds, valued at $44,936. The catch taken by vessels 
under 5 tons net tonnage is not included in these statistics. These 
fish are taken chiefly with the flounder drag, an apparatus similar to 
an otter trawl, and adapted for use in this fishery. This apparatus 
is used by power vessels and boats. It varies in size according to the 
size of the vessel or boat using it. The foot line or chain varies in 
the different sizes of nets from about 48 to 70 feet in length. When 
being set the drag is thrown overboard from the stern of the boat, 
and the foot line, or chain, carries it quickly to the bottom. In the 
meantime the boat is under power, and when the water strikes the 
drag the bag or net is opened. As the boat moves forward two otter 
boards, or wooden doors, one at each end of the foot line, or chain, 
operate to spread the bag out to its full extent. The apparatus is 
drawn along the bottom by the vessel or boat for about two hours, 
and then it is taken on board and the fish are dumped out. 
The Massachusetts fishermen have been catching during the past 
year, apparently for the first time in commercial quantities, a fish 
which is locally called sole or gray sole. This species, which has been 
identified as the pole flounder, craig flounder, or deep-sea flounder 
(Glyptocephalus cynoglossus) ,is found on both shores of the Atlantic 
Ocean, ranging as far south as Ireland and Delaware Bay in deep 
water. It was first found on our coast in 1877, when numerous speci- 
mens were secured by the Bureau in the deepest parts of Massachu- 
setts Bay. It is an excellent food fish, and large quantities were taken 
in the fall of 1917 and also during the year 1918. 
VESSEL FISHERIES AT SEATTLE, WASH. 
The vessel fisheries at Seattle, Wash., have not varied materially 
in extent from the previous year. The products landed by fishing 
vessels have been smaller in quantity, but have increased in value. 
In the products landed by collecting vessels there has been consid- 
erable inérease in both quantity and value. Statistics of the vessel 
fisheries at Seattle have been collected by the local agent and pub- 
160695°—20——5 
